Frederick William Johnson (1860-1919)

F. W. Johnson (Frederick William Johnson) was born on 21 March 1860 in Melbourne, Victoria. His father was William John Johnson and his mother was Emily Marchant.

Frederick was married at St Paul's Anglican Church in Ipswich on 28 April 1886 to Sarah Ann Catlow. They had five children: William John Johnson, Muriel Johnson, Ernest Biggs Johnson, Lavinia Maude Johnson and Arthur Marchant Johnson.

He started his coach works business on the corner of Limestone and Ellenborough Streets in Ipswich in March 1884. In 1893 the City Coach Works was located on Brisbane Street, Ipswich. In the adjoining building he had also commenced business as an undertaker, Johnson Bros Undertakers. e was an Alderman in Ipswich from 1907-1912.

In 1891 Frederick purchased a house at 11 Burnett Street, Sadlier’s Crossing which he named ‘Belmont’ after the Battle of Belmont in the Boer War. Around 1912 he built a house at 83 Chermside Road, Ipswich named ‘Cremona’.

When the late F.W. Johnson passed away on 16 December 1919, his sons took over joint control of the business.